Laurel and Hardy shorts on dvd? (1 Viewer)

[westumulka]

Speaking as someone else who also grew up in PAL-land and who has many titles from many different regions - I don't notice a difference.

However, I do appreciate that someone who has only seen NTSC discs may notice a difference.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

Originally Posted by Livius

There tends to be a lot of scaremongering crap written about PAL. At the end of the day it means the material runs 4% faster, and that's very slight however you look at it. Some people tend to be more sensitive than others but most won't find it a major distraction. I grew up and became accustomed to PAL yet I also own a significant number of NTSC DVDs. Consequently, one would expect that I would notice the apparent "slowdown" on NTSC discs. However, that's not the case; I know the difference exists but it's not something that I notice at all. Just enjoy your purchase guys and stop worrying about things you may never even be aware of.

I'm not saying you're accusing me of it, but I want you to know I'm not trying to be a scaremongerer. But I will say that I conintuously noticed the speedup in HOUSE OF DRACULA, which was a film embedded in my brain, both visually and audio-wise, for my whole life. It just moved and even sounded different to me, and that includes the Universal soundtrack music. (In the 1970s I had the audio recorded on cassette, which I used to play - so it is etched in my mind). I watched it twice -- the first time I felt like I was being "rushed" though it. The second time, I felt more adjusted to it. I will concede in this case that had I not ever seen the film before, I may not have noticed.


I don't think anyone should speak for everybody. I have read plenty of posts where people have said the PAL takes them right out of a movie, just as I have read many such as yours which say "it's not a big deal, so just be quiet and relax". Everyone will just have to see and hear for themselves to determine what they think. I'll get back to you when I get my Laurel & Hardy set. But I have already looked at some YouTube clips where Oliver Hardy's voice sounded unnaturally higher, and I noticed it immediately.

 

[Colin McGuigan]

I'm certainly not accusing you personally, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular to be honest. It's just that there tend to be a certain proportion of posts where people do indulge in something like scaremongering regarding PAL - to the point where it actively discourages others from trying things out for themselves, and therefore cutting themselves off from a significant number of titles that are otherwse unavailable to them.


The difference certainly exists but it won't affect everybody. The point is that people should give it a go for themselves and see if it's something that bothers them. Some will be aware of the speedup, others won't.

 

[Brandon Conway]

Set arrived today. Should be fun to get started on checking them out.

 

[Sumnernor]

I have both the german Laurel &Hardy as well as the UK version. I bought the UK set because of its price. From what I have read, the colorized L&H on the UK are not very good and take up space. For a review of the UK set see:


http://www.laurelandhardy.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/newDVDREV.html


Sometime last year I made a blurb about the German Laurel & Hardy. I don't know if there is any legal problems (?copywrite?) with my blurb relative to a much older post from Holland. The old post from Holland link is:


http://www.blotto.nl/index.php/weblog/dvd/


My thing is more up-todate with added information. The Laurel & Hardy from the UK and the german contain the "best" of Laurel & Hardy. I have the impression that the UK set has more of L&H speaking other languages than the german set. I have the feeling that there is more Charlie Chase on the german set. Not included on the UK set was "Flying Deuces" On the german DVD of "The Flying Deuces " ("In der Fremden legion") there is an easter egg of "Lucky Dog" which has Laurel with Hardy but they were not a pair. Some of Laurel and Hardy were issued on FOX but not the best L&H. Warners has issued several L&H including excerps from "Hollywood Party which is very good L&H (including the egg scene). Warner has also issued "Hollywood Party" which is not a very good film but worth having for the L&H and disney cartoon

 

[Lee Bombard]

My set arrived from Amazon UK today. Took a very long time but looks to be well worth it. The packaging is really high quality. 21 DVD's in slim cases in a very solid and classy box. I watched pretty much an entire disc and must say the quality seems as good if not better than I've seen before on these titles. So far I'm very pleased.

 

[ChrisALM]

My L & H set arrived earlier this week. It took a little over two weeks, oh well. I agree - the packaging of the set is very solid. I pulled out a disc and watched "Them Thar Hills" and it has pretty good quality. I did seem to notice the speed up a couple of times, but nothing that really bothered me.


I am glad I went ahead and got the region free player and the L & H set. I can now watch L & H whenever I want.

 

[Sumnernor]

Since the Laurel & Hardy films in the UK are generally from the German company In Leipsig - I would say that the films are "correct" in regards to the audio since the german (and UK) were done from the films - not the US NTSC. Perhaps the UK films played in the US might (I doubt it) have "NTSC slowdown". Where I live in Germany, I am luckily not sensitive to PAL-Speedup or NTSC slow down. I know people who have perfect pitch have problems with music. I am somewhat sensitive to wrong perspectives like thin or fat people. One TV station in Germany (Eurosport) had for 10 days a 4:3 picture which was the wideangle picture squeezed into a 4:3 picture!!!! with thin people. The picture looked ok with the 16:9 - DVD setting. Now they have the (german) TV standard for widescreen (3rd zoom/ letterbox).

 

[DeWilson]

Originally Posted by Sumnernor
. Perhaps the UK films played in the US might (I doubt it)

U.S. airing on TCM are from the transfers done by RHI Entertainment here is America.

 

[DeWilson]

All this talk of the UK Set vs The German has been confusing - which one is the best?

 

[Sumnernor]

Originally Posted by DeWilson /forum/thread/280796/laurel-and-hardy-shorts-on-dvd/60#post_3778736

 

[ChrisALM]

Can anybody share any additional details about the upcoming R1 release (on 10/25) of the 10 disc L & H Essential Collection by the RHI / Vivendi Entertainment? Digital Bits has some details, but I would like to find out more about it.


Edit: OK - I just scrolled down and found the new thread on this new release. Thanks.